beer taste

New Blog Tallgrass Brewing 8-Bit Pale Ale

In this blog, we are going to get into the Tallgrass Brewing 8-Bit Pale Ale.  Tallgrass Brewing was founded in 2006 by Jeff Gill in Manhattan, Kansas.  They brew several different beer styles and they are only available in draft and cans.  They are available in the Midwest, Mississippi, and Minnesota.  The history of this young brewery is very little but I found this information all on their website (www.tallgrassbeer.com).  They are not in the Chicago area and I wish they would come to Illinois.  I had a friend being me a four pack back for me to try it and blog about it.

8-Bit Pale Ale has yellow cloudy look to the beer with a constant white head.  The carbonation is pretty high on this beer so pour it slowly in the beer glass.  To me, the beer has that funky Belgian yeast smell to it, which I do not believe they use Belgian yeast.  The beer drinker will smell spices with some earthy to it.  As far as the taste of this beer has an earthy taste with a nice sweet aftertaste.  It has that feel of Belgian Pale Ale to this beer.  It is an extremely drinkable beer with nice old school video game graphics on the 16oz can.

Here is a description from their website (www.tallgrassbeer.com):

8-Bit                 

Hop-Rocketed Pale Ale

(ABV 5.2%)

Just like those classic video games we all grew up with, 8-Bit Pale Ale is spectacularly simple at first glance yet remarkably fun and complex when you get into it.  Our Hop Rocket infuses the character of Australian grown Galaxy Hops into an American Pale Ale, giving a unique tropical, almost melon aroma in a classic American style.

IBU: 40

Malts: 2 Row, Victory, Vienna & Munich

Hops: Magnum, Centennial, Cascade & Galaxy

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.tallgrassbeer.com

Twitter:  @tallgrassbeer

In the end, Tallgrass Brewing did a great job using Galaxy Hops.  I love the graphics on the can and the name of the beer.  Being a beer fan and video gamer, this is my beer of choice while playing the video games and it will be in my regular beer line up.  I had a friend of mine that watches G4TV saw this beer on one of their shows.  She forward it over to me and that is when I started doing some research the brewery and beer to find out where I can pick up this beer.  I had another friend visiting family in Kansas so I asked her to pick up some beer for me.  I really love the body and favor this beer kicks out.  It is your standard American Pale Ale but it has a huge Belgian Pale Ale feel to it.  It has a nice balance from the malts and hops to give a nice punch and full favor.  8-Bit Pale Ale is drinkable and I believe it will make every beer drinker love this beer.  Hey Chicago, we are not that far from Wisconsin.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

New Blog Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale

Starting new tab, Geary’s Hampshire Special Ale, which is an American Strong Ale, is going to be feature in this beer blog.  I have wrote about their Pale Ale in one of my earlier blog.  If you read that blog, you are pretty much up to speed on this brewery.  If you have not, please go back and read that first part of that blog post.  Let us get into the beer.

This American Strong Ale has a clear blood red color without a head.  It has a amber like color to it. The smell is sweet carmel malty to it. The taste is sweet carbonation malty carmel with a dry sweet malty that last a while in the beer drinker.  It is extremely drinkable and dangerous for the beer drinker.

Here is a descripation from their website (www.gearybrewing.com):

Hampshire Ale

Once Maine’s legendary seasonal specialty, Hampshire is now available year round. Hampshire has a huge toasted malt flavor balanced by assertive hoppiness. The finish is long and lingering with the malt and hop notes blending with alcohol warmth. Original gravity – 1070; alcohol by volume – 7%; two row English malts (pale, crystal and chocolate); Cascade, Mt. Hood and East Kent Golding hops.
Availability: Year round

Original gravity: 1070

Ingredients: Two row English Malt (pale, crystal and chocolate); Cascade, Mt Hood and East Kent Golding hops.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.gearybrewing.com

Twitter:  @gearybrewing

Closing, I am glad to see this brewery in the Chicago market again.  I will be drinking and blogging on this brewery a little bit more.  This beer is full of flavor and comes with a huge value for the price you will be paying at the beer store.  I love the heavy malty and sweetness.  Plus, it does not taste like 7% ABV beer that is pretty dangerlous to the beer drinker.  This is an awesome beer and very well made.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Blog Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy

In this blog, the beer that will be feature is Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy.  Leinenkugel’s Brewery was founded in 1867 by Jacob Leinenkugel and John Miller in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin,  It was sold to Miller Brewing Company in 1988.  They are known for their Summer Shandy.  Lemon Berry Shandy, which is a limited edition, is a line off their Summer Shandy.  Let us get into the beer.

Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy is a limit edition and a summer seasonal.  It has a light cloudy copper color without a head on it. The smell is a ton of berry wheat to it. The beer taste is like their Berry Weiss but a small hint of lemonade to it.  The aftertaste is about the only time to me you will taste of beer.  To me, this beer is water down vision of their Berry Weiss. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.leinie.com):

Light, crisp and perfect for every season. Our Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy is Weiss beer brewed with blackberry juice and natural lemonade flavor. And the best part is this Shandy is available year round. So now every season is Shandy Season.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.leinie.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address.

Closing out, there was so many rumors about mixing three Leinenkugel’s beers.  I guess this brewery got wind of it and made this beer.  I am not saying this brewery is mixing their beers and then bottle it.  This beer is fishly like that.  I really did not like this beer.  It has a light body and too fruit to sweet for me.  I love sweet but this is not the right kind of sweet for me.  If you are a fan of their Summer Shandy, I would recommend you trying this beer.  I  believe you will like it.  Plus, just because I did not like, it does not mean you will not like it.  I just wanted to give my  thoughts on it.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Magic Hat Company Blind Faith IPA

Magic Hat Company Blind Faith IPA is going to be featured in this blog.  Magic Hat Company was founded in 1994 in Burlington, Vermont.  Magic Hat brought Pyramid Brewery in 2008 and later in 2010, they were brought out by North American Breweries from Rochester, New York.  Let us get into the beer.

Magic Hat Blind Faith is their India Pale Ale seasonal.  It is available in six-pack bottles and part of their sampler pack.  It is a slightly cloudy copper color with a white head at first.  It goes away after a while. There is really no smell to the beer.  The taste is a grassy to earthly hop taste to it and has a dry mango aftertaste.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Magic Hat is presenting our year long “Tour of IPAs!”  Please join us in welcoming to the stage our revolving roster of FOUR features, specially formulated to entertain the palates of hop lovers worldwide.  Smell the hops, taste the hops, love the hops…. and stay “On Tour” with our quarterly cabaret of IPAs.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  http://www.magichat.net

Twitter:  @magichat

In the end, I have to be honest which I am through these blogs.  It has got me in trouble at times.  I am not a huge fan of this brewery.  However, of late this brewery has been trying to do different things, this India Pale Ale is one of them.  In the craft world now, American Craft Breweries do not know when to stop  making their beers over hop.  It is nice to have a nice English India Pale Ale, which is what this Magic Hat beer.  They are flipping the hops for the turn of the seasonal, which I love to get a different twist on IPA.  I know Samuel Adams did that with their IPA but in a sampler pack which was a few years ago.  Widmer Brothers are doing that to their IPA and I really enjoyed their Fall, Winter, and Spirng IPA in that line.  Magic Hat Blind Faith IPA is coming out of its seasonal so I would go head out and find this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale

In this blog, we are doing the last one from Blue Moon Brewing Company.  The beer is Harvest Pumpkin Ale, which is their Fall Seasonal.  If you read my blog on their Summer Seasonal, we are pretty much up to speed with the brewery.  I will not bore you with the history again.  If you have not read it, please go back to read the first part of that post.  Let us get into the beer.

Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale is their seasonal six-pack and twelve pack bottles.  It is also part of their fall sampler twelve pack bottles. It has a deep dark copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell to the beer is a cinnamon and a ton of nutmeg and a slight pumpkin.  The taste is a cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little pumpkin.  The aftertaste is a little wheat to yeast to this fall seasonal. It is drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A pumpkin ale crafted with autumn’s bounty of vine-ripened pumpkin and flavors of cloves, allspice, and nutmeg,  Then brewed with a touch of wheat for a smooth, lightly spiced finish.

Here is a description from their website (www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com):

In 1995, we crafted our first autumn seasonal—Pumpkin Ale. At the time, Oktoberfest beers were in high demand. For our version, we wanted to create a beer that was a little different than what was already out there and complemented the season by highlighting the flavors we’ve all grown to love during this time. It was so popular that it became the first nationally available pumpkin ale. Harvest Pumpkin Ale, as it’s called now, is crafted with pumpkin and spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice for a taste you’ll want to fall right into.
Available in 12-oz. bottles, 6-pack, 12-pack, Draft
Ingredients and Profile
Malts: Munich, Caramel
Hops: Hallertau
Our Twist: Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove, Allspice
IBUs: 16
Original Gravity: 15º Plato
ABV: 5.7%
Appearance:  Deep amber-colored ale with brilliant clarity and a rich, white head.
Aroma:  Very complex aroma consisting of malty spice notes.
Taste:  The taste starts out with assertive malty notes and is quickly balanced with the right amount of harvest spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. There’s a small amount of bitterness to keep the malt sweetness from building up.
Mouthfeel:  A medium-bodied ale with just enough carbonation to balance the rich caramel character.
Finish:  Finishes with a smooth, clean malt and spice taste. Hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and malt gradually fade.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address

In closing, being one of the first Pumpkin Ales, it does not mean that it is a good beer.  It is a drinkable beer but this is a really bad beer.  I had several different Pumpkin Ales so far this season and this is at the bottom of the list.  I am not saying it because it is made from a mass beer company.  I just gave them credit in a few post earlier.  This beer is really bad and you can find it everywhere.  I know for a fact if you do want to try, which I will suggest it, that you could find it for a pretty good price in a bar or where beer is sold down at the store level.  I just want to hear your thoughts on this beer. Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Blue Moon Carmel Apple Spiced Ale

In this blog, we are sampling out another beer from the Blue Moon Brewing Company and the beer is called Carmel Apple Spiced Ale.  If you read my earlier blog on their Summer Ale, you are pretty much know about this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Blue Moon Limited Autumn Release Carmel Apple Spiced Ale is part of their fall sampler twelve pack bottles.  It has a copper color without a head on the beer.  The smell is caramel apple with cinnamon and touch of nutmeg to it.  The taste is of cinnamon caramel to apple. It is sweet yet extremely drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

This copper-colored ale is crafted with caramel malts, cinnamon, and fresh apple juice to stir up the tastes of fall.

Thank you to all our fans that helped us craft this limited autumn release.  For this fall seasonal, we blended fresh apple juice with cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel malts for a warming spice taste.

Here is a description from their website (www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com):

So Crisp, You’ll Want to Bite Right Into It.
Limited Autumn Release.
In anticipation of the blue moon on August 31, 2012, we reached out to our fans to help us craft our next Blue Moon®. We started by taking suggestions from our fans, and then we brewed three beers based on their input. Then came the hard part—tasting the beers. Our fans voted for their favorite, and with that we now welcome Caramel Apple Spiced Ale to our collection of limited seasonal releases. We blend apple juice with cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel malts for a warming spice taste to stir up the tastes of fall.
Available in 12-oz. bottles, Brewmaster’s Autumn Sampler Pack
Ingredients and Profile
Malts: Pale, White Wheat, Caramel, Munich
Hops: Spalt Select
Our Twist: Apple Juice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg
IBUs: 16
Original Gravity: 14º Plato A
BV: 5.8%
Appearance:  Rich copper with high clarity and a creamy head.
Aroma:  Warm spice aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg with hints of apples and caramel malt.
Taste:   A seasonal blend of spice and caramel malts that highlight the crisp apple taste.
Mouthfeel:  Medium to full-bodied ale.
Finish:  Spice gives way to a smooth apple finish that cleans up nicely.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  there is no twitter address

In the end, this beer is shocking good and taste like by the name of the beer.  It is a liquid form of a Caramel Apple you would get out in a farm or what your Mom use to make.  This is the point why we drink these craft beers.  It should touch our past experiences.  This beer has done that to me.  I really enjoy this beer and it comes accross more as a dessert beer.  This is not a beer you can enjoy all day because it will be too sweet for after a while.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!   \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Blue Moon Belgian-Style Pale Ale

In this blog, Blue Moon Belgian-Style Pale Ale is the beer that will be sampled out from their Fall Sampler Pack.  If you read my earlier blog on their Summer Seasonal, you are up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Blue Moon Pale Ale is available in six pack bottles and part of their seasonal sampler twelve pack bottles.  It is a clear copper color without a head on the beer.  It has a dull earthly smell to the beer.  This pale ale has a sweet malty to earthly and slightly piney taste to it. It is drinkable. It has an English Pale Ale taste to the beer.

Here is a descriation from the beer bottle:

This copper-colored ale is crafted with hibisccus, a touch of wheat, and Cascade hops for a smooth finish and subtle hop aroma.  We add a twist of orange peel and hibiscus for a well-rounded, balanced taste.

Here is a descriation from their website (www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com)

A Maltier Pale Ale.
While studying brewing in Belgium, our head brewmaster and founder, Keith,  met plenty of beer-minded friends who introduced him to local styles including  Belgian Pale Ales. On weekends, they’d road-trip north of Brussels to  Londerzeel—a small town famous for its Belgian Pale Ales. The malty taste  and pleasant hop aroma (without the overpowering bitterness) made a lasting  impression on Keith. So much so that when he returned to the States, he decided  to create his own interpretation of the classic style by adding hibiscus and  orange peel for a subtle citrus finish, making it a great beer to pair with a  wide variety of foods and occasions.

Available in 12-oz. bottles, 6-pack, 12-pack, Draft

Ingredients and Profile
Malts: Pale, Imported Caramel, Imported Light Caramel, White Wheat
Hops: Cascade
Our Twist: Orange Peel , Hibiscus
IBUs: 22
Original Gravity: 13º Plato
ABV: 5.4%
Glassware:  Pour in a tulip-shaped glass to capture the hop notes and allow room for a thick head on the beer.
Appearance:  The beer will have a brilliant amber color with a thick, creamy, white head.
Aroma:  Notes of caramel malt and citrus with an assertive Cascade hop aroma.
Taste:  Caramel maltiness balanced with a hint of bitterness.
Mouthfeel:  Medium body with a smooth malt character.
Finish:  A hint of hops with a slight citrus/floral taste from the orange peel and hibiscus.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Twitter:  There is no twitter address.

Closing, Blue Moon is not on my rader at all but I pick up this sampler back for their Carmel Apple Ale.  This Pale Ale is shocking good but this is not a Belgian- Pale Ale.  It is an English Style Pale ale.  It has a nice malty taste with a nice hop finish.  It is has good flavor from one of the mass produced beer companies sub brewery.  It is drinkable beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email;  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Slumbrew Flagraiser IPA

Starting a new tab, Slumbrew Flagraiser IPA is the beer that will be featured in this beer blog.  Slumbrew was founded by Caitlin Jewell and Jeff Leiter in Sommerville, MA.  They bottle their beers in 22oz and draft beer.  They brew several different beer.  They take the classic beer styles and put their own twist on them.  Let us get into the beer.

This India Pale Ale has a pretty cloudy copper color a head on it.  Slumbrew IPA has an earthly to slightly piney smell to it.  The taste is a sweet earthly to pine with a piney aftertaste. It is a drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Flagraiser IPA is a big, hoppy tribute to the unfurling of the Grand Union flag atop Prospect Hill in Sommerville, MA on January 1st, 1776.  This ale celebrates our passion for hop aroma and flavor balanced with just the right amount of malt.  Salute your hops!

Ale brewed with five grains, Columbus, Crystal and Galaxy Hops.  Dry-hopped with Galaxy.

Keep cold, enjoy, while fresh and serve at 45 to 50 degree.

Here is a description from their website (www.slumbrew.com):

Flagraiser IPA is a big, hoppy tribute to the unfurling of the Grand Union flag atop Prospect Hill in Somerville, MA on January 1, 1776. This ale celebrates our passion for hop aroma and flavor balanced with just the right amount of malt.

Huge aroma and resin-y flavors from the elusive Galaxy hops are the signature of this beer. Built on a solid base of pale malts, this double IPA makes generous use of hops from Columbus, Crystal and Galaxy with the Galaxy hops taking the lead during ten days of aggressive dry-hopping.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.slumbrew.com

Twitter:  @slumbrew

Closing out the beer tab, I really enjoyed this brewey’s beers.  As many of you know, I am not a huge fan of 22oz or 750ml bottles but I will reject my thought on that for this brewery’s beer. Many of you know I use to do a metal and beer show on STFU.FM and this brewery was one of the last breweries that was feature on that show. This India Pale Ale is a strong example of the great beers that this brewery makes in their everyday line up.  I really enjoy the hop character to its great malty backbone.  It has a nice balance and huge drinkablity. Those are huge plus for this beer. If you love West Coast Pale Ales or any India Pale Ale, I highly recommend you trying this beer out.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Brooklyn Brewery Pilsner

Starting a new beer tab, we are going to get into another brew from Brooklyn Brewery and the beer is Brooklyn Pilsner.  If you read my earlier blog on one of their other beers, you are pretty up to speed on this brewery.  Let us get into the beer.

Brooklyn Pilsner is part of their everyday beers. It has a clear golden color with constant white head and bubbles.  There is really no smell to the beer. The taste is a dry slight carbonated to it with crisp finish. Just like all Brooklyn beers, it has that classic European style to it. This pilsner is extremely drinkable and perfect for anytime of the year.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Brooklyn Pilsner is a pale refreshing lager, brewed in the style flavored by New York’s pre-Prohibition German-American brewers.  Brooklyn Pilsner tastes best before the freshness date indicated.  Please write us or visit the brewery Saturdays noon to 5pm.  79 N 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211, or visit our website at www.brookynbrewery.com.

Here is a description from their website (www.brooklynbrewery.com):

Brooklyn Pilsner is a refreshing golden lager beer, brewed in the style favored by New York’s pre-prohibition brewers. In the 1840’s, the pilsner style emerged from central Europe to become the world’s most popular style of beer. Like its ancestors, Brooklyn Pilsner is traditionally brewed from the finest German two-row barley malts. Germangrown Perle and Hallertauer hops provide a crisp, snappy bitterness and fresh, floral aroma. The flavor of the malt comes through in the finish. We ferment Brooklyn Pilsner at cool temperatures, and then give it a long, gentle maturation (lagering), which results in a beer of superior complexity and smoothness. We believe that you will find there to be none finer. Unlike mass-marketed so-called pilsners, Brooklyn Pilsner does not contain cheap fillers such as corn or rice, nor does it contain any preservatives or stabilizers. Brooklyn Pilsner is the real thing.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.brooklynbrewery.com

Twitter:  @brooklynbrewery

Closing out the tab, I have really been enjoying Brooklyn beers.  This beer style is slowly becoming one of my favorite beer styles.  I really love the clean crisp finish and the medium body.  It has a ton of flavor and perfect for any season from the Summer to Winter.  If you love pilsners, this is one beer you need to try a few times.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser

New Blog Shiner Spring Ale Dortmunder

In this blog, we are going to get into one of the seasonal from the Shiner Brewery,  It is their spring seasonal called Dortmunder.  If you read my earlier blog, you are pretty up to speed with this brewery.  Let us get into the brewery.

Shiner Dortmunder has a copper color without a head on the beer.  There is a slight malty smell to the beer.  It has a sweet, carbonation, and carmel taste with a dry crisp finish to it. It is a drinkable spring beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Spring has a sprung at the little brewery in Shiner, TX (pop. 2,070).  And with it, our newest brew, Shiner Dortmunder-Style Spring Ale.  This Old World classic pours deep gold in color, with a white head and smooth flavor.  Its medium hop bitterness, and hints of grain honey and floral hops will refresh you like a sun-drenched nap on a lush green lawn.  Prosit!

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.shiner.com

Twitter:  @shinerbeer

In closing, Shiner Dortmunder is not one of my favorite seasonals or beers from Shiner Brewery.  It is not a bad beer for being a meduim body beer.  It is a perfect beer for the spring time.  This beer is good to drink all day while doing lawn work or watching a baseball game from start to finish.  If you love German style beers, you will love Shiner Brewery’s beers.  They are German base asides Shiner Wild Hare, which is newest beer to their everday lineup and I have blogged about it in the past.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djweiser